The Angus Journal® is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association® programs and services; the Angus business; herd management; and advertising reflecting genetics and herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/764736
36 ■ ANGUSJournal ■ January 2017 The best Growing up, I always had a feel for the game of baseball; it was in my blood. I wanted to be the best pitcher, the best fi elder and the best hitter. I wanted to be the fastest runner, too, but I didn't quite inherit that trait. As I grew older, my dream never changed. I wanted to be the best. I became determined that I would someday fi nd a way to accomplish my lifelong passion of playing the game I love for the rest of my life. However, as I started to realize my dream was slowly becoming unattainable, I found my passion in something else: the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). Through my time on the NJAA Board of Directors, I have made some of the fondest memories and have met some of the most infl uential people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. I couldn't think of a better way of spending the last two years and fulfi lling a dream of being a "hometown hero" for youth all over the country. It really puts life into perspective when you can serve thousands of juniors with 17 of your best friends I've always been told that when something comes to an end, it opens the door for a new beginning. I am truly blessed to be a part of such an impeccable breed as the Angus breed that has made the biggest impact in my life. I hope that through life's journey, I can continue to serve the members of our junior Association even when my time in the green jacket is up. I will end with this: "Take the fi rst step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the fi rst step." — Braden Henricks, Oklahoma Juniors earn Bronze and Silver Awards Three juniors, including Reagan Skow, Palisade, Neb., Caroline Cowles, Rockfi eld, Ky., and Olivia Johnson, Prole, Iowa, have earned the NJAA's Bronze and Silver awards, according to Jaclyn Clark, education and events director of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo. Reagan Skow, the 16-year-old daughter of Brian and Tiffany Stoller, attends Wauneta-Palisade High School and is a Braden Henricks Next Generation @ Postcard from an NJAA director and state spotlights. Compiled by Shelby Mettlen, assistant editor. ASSOCIATION NJAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TERMS UP IN 2017 MACY PERRY, California, chairman, macy.perry@okstate.edu REESE TUCKWILLER, West Virginia, vice chairman, reeset94@gmail.com GABRIELLE LEMENAGER, Illinois, communications director, gabriellelemenager@yahoo.com BRADEN HENRICKS, Oklahoma, Foundation director, bradenhenricks@gmail.com TIM MARDESEN, Iowa, leadership director, timothymardesen@yahoo.com KATELYN CORSENTINO, Lousiana, membership director, katelyn.corsentino@gmail.com TERMS UP IN 2018 MADISON BUTLER, Indiana, mbutler_44@hotmail.com MICHAELA CLOWSER, Nebraska, michaela.clowser@gmail.com CORBIN COWLES, Kentucky, corbin.cowles@okstate.edu CATIE HOPE, Virginia, chope714@gmail.com WILL POHLMAN, Arkansas, fwpohlma@uark.edu JORDYN WAGNER, Montana, jordynlynnwagner@gmail.com member of the NJAA and the Nebraska Junior Angus Association, where she serves as director. She has participated in state and national shows and showmanship contests. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Reagan participated in the extemporaneous speaking, quiz bowl, livestock judging and team sales contests and the All-American Certifi ed Angus Beef® Cook-Off. She also participated in the mentoring program in 2010 and 2011. In 2016 she served as a voting delegate. She was also a participant in the 2015 and 2016 Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conferences. Reagan has submitted weight data to Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) and has consigned cattle at the Bear Mountain Angus annual sales. Caroline Cowles, the 17-year-old daughter of Gil and Mary Cowles, attends Ensworth High School and is a member of the NJAA and the Kentucky Junior Angus Association, where she has served as director and currently serves as secretary and royalty. She also serves as secretary for the Atlantic National Junior Board of Directors. Caroline has participated in local, state, regional and national shows and showmanship contests. At the NJAS, she participated in the extemporaneous speaking, quiz bowl, livestock judging and photography contests and the cook-off. She also participated in the mentoring program in 2011, 2013 and 2016. In 2016 Caroline served as a voting delegate. She has also participated in the LEAD conference from 2013 to 2016 and the Raising the Bar conference in 2015 and 2016. Olivia Johnson, the 16-year-old daughter of Eric and Kelly Johnson, attends Martensdale-St. Mary's Community School and is a member of the NJAA and the Iowa Junior Angus Association, which she has served as director and royalty. Olivia has participated in national shows and local and state showmanship contests. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), she participated in the extemporaneous speaking, quiz bowl and livestock judging contests. She also participated in the 2014 LEAD conference. The Bronze and Silver awards are the fi rst two levels of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus Visit the NJAA web site at www.njaa.info. The dreamer Just as Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "I have a dream," I did too. I remember it like it was yesterday; I was just a small boy with big dreams. Boy, was I a dreamer all right! It was always my intention to become a professional baseball player, because just like many other 5-year-old boys, I wanted to be that hometown hero that every little kid looked up to. I didn't fulfi ll my dream of becoming a pro baseball player; however, little did I know then, I'd become a role model for more than just the kids in my hometown.